Shawl or wrap with closure mechanism

ABSTRACT

The garment shown in the following FIGS.  1 - 15  is a shawl or wrap worn around the neck, arms or shoulders and draped loosely around the body. The shawl may or may not include sleeves or armholes for the hands or arms. The shawl may or may not include pockets, zippers or other openings for the convenience of the wearer. The adjustable friction side clasp closure shown which has an extra layer of reinforcement to provide a notion free bag or garment closure can be used on products like a garment, shawl or wrap making it safe for small children, and quiet when fastening. Other possible uses of the friction side closure are in objects to which it&#39;s closing including but not limited to scarves, gloves, wallets, coats, purses, trousers, shirts, skirts, dresses, belts, bags, luggage, parachutes, and sleeping bags.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to a closure mechanism that uses friction to stay closed on apparel (e.g. scarves, gloves, sleeping bags, luggage, wallets, purses, clothes and outerwear, belts, bags) rather than conventional buttons, snaps, zippers etc. The shawl includes the friction side clasp closure or attachment mechanism that enables the wearer to fasten or secure, releasably, one side or edge of the shawl to the other side at or near the wearer's neckline, thereby causing the shawl to remain secured around the wearer's body. This closure serves multiple purposes: first to prevent notions on a shawl or scarf if for example used as a nursing cover or burp shawl such as buttons from being bitten off and choked on by a young infant or child, second, it's a stay put slide through closure unlike a traditional scarf that is tied around a neck and can fall off easily allowing the wearer to multitask hands-free, third, it's a closure that can be secured simply with little effort, and lastly, because it uses a friction slide closure it can adjust to fit any size person, object it closes with adjustable tension or tightness.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional closures which include, but are not limited, to notions such as buttons, snaps, hooks, Velcro, zippers, grommets to fasten fabric, leather, etc. together, require another medium to be sewn on to the garment, bag or scarf to keep it closed or two sides of the fabric need to be tied to together like a conventional scarf. These other closures are easily torn off, noisy to use and require more effort to fasten than in this invention. Prior closures can be easily dislodged and swallowed by a young child, making them less desirable for use in baby products such as nursing covers and burp shawls.

This closure which is made entirely of a stiff fabric patch with holes can be sewn directly onto the apparel or bag and would be much safer if used on baby nursing shawls, and burp cloths, kids sleeping bags or just shawls worn by a caregiver. Furthermore, this design is a modern, clean take on conventional shawls and closures.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the reasons cited above, it is an objective of the invention to provide a notion-free (no-adornment) stay put “smart” closure that is safe for small children, quiet when opening and closing, easy to use and adjustable to fit any size person in the case of a shawl/scarf or object to which it's closing such as a bag or sleeping bag. This type of closure and shawl will benefit professionals, children and busy moms and dads who want a stylish and functional garment or bag which allows them to multi-task. This closure design keeps the shawl in place on shoulders to make the wearer look smart and chic while also being functional. In addition, the shawl design includes pleats along the back of the shawl to better conform to the wearers' shoulders providing a more tailored fit.

The garment is a shawl or wrap worn around the neck, arms or shoulders and draped loosely around the body. The shawl may or may not include sleeves or armholes for the hands or arms. The shawl may or may not include pockets, zippers or other openings for the convenience of the wearer.

The shawl may be made of any of a variety of fibers or fabrics such as cotton, wool, cashmere, polyester, silk, either in pure or blended form. The shawl may also be made of any other substantially planar, flexible or semi-flexible materials such as plastic, rubber, leather, suede or mesh.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached figures illustrate various aspects of my invention. To those skilled in the art, other aspects of the invention not shown in the illustrations or specifically described below will nonetheless be apparent.

FIG. 1 illustrates in the front view of the shawl how the fabric on one side of the shawl drapes through the friction side clasp closure. The perforated line labeled 13 shows the clamping action of the clasp and the dotted line also shows how the fabric on the other side of the shawl weaves through the holes in the closure. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and elsewhere, the shawl includes a closure or attachment mechanism that enables the wearer to fasten or secure, releasably, one side or edge of the shawl to the other side at or near the wearer's neckline, thereby causing the shawl to remain secured around the wearer's body.

FIG. 2 illustrates the back view of the shawl and shows the pleats around the neckline that provide a tailored fit to the wearer.

FIG. 3 illustrates the left side view of the shawl and shows how the fabric on one side of the shawl is draped through the friction side clasp closure.

FIG. 4 illustrates the right side view of the shawl and shows how the fabric on the other side of the shawl looks when draped through the friction side clasp closure.

FIG. 5 illustrates the top view of the shawl and shows how the fabric lays on the shawl when the shawl is fastened around the users shoulders.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the top views of the shawl open and spread out and shows both the pleats around the neckline and the closure in the open position when it does not have fabric woven through.

FIG. 8, FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate top views of the shawl open and spread out and the thickness of the closure sewn onto the shawl.

FIG. 12 illustrates back view of the shawl open and spread out and the perforated line labeled 14 shows the holes that the other end of the fabric is woven through. As illustrated in FIG. 12 there are a series of pleats around the neckline finished off by a bias neckline that conform to the shape of the individuals back and neck to provide a more tailored fit around the wearer's neck.

FIG. 13 illustrates the layers of reinforcement in the closure when the fabric from the other side of the shawl is fed through (in closed position).

FIG. 14 illustrates the layers of reinforcement in the closure when the fabric from the other side of the shawl is not woven through (in open position).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The friction side clasp closure which has an extra layer of reinforcement to provide a notion free bag or garment closure can be used on products like a garment, shawl or wrap shown that can be worn around the neck, arms or shoulders and draped loosely around the body. The shawl may or may not include sleeves or armholes for the hands or arms. The shawl may or may not include pockets, zippers or other openings for the convenience of the wearer. As stated previously, this adornment free friction side clasp is intended for use for other products such as sleeping bag closures, scarf closures, bag closures, belts and other apparel. This no adornment fabric closure is intended to provide a safe alternative to buttons, zippers, etc. that can be dislodged, chewed and choked on by young children. In addition, it's a soft and quiet on/off closure that doesn't disturb or rub against a child lying on a garment like a nursing cover, pillow, burp shawl or sleeping bag that needs a closure. In addition, it is meant to provide an easy attachment for the wearer and also a secure closure that allows a one handed pull through the closure adjustment to provide a snug fit for any size. This allows the user to multi-task by leaving one or both hands free when securing, adjusting and wearing the shawl.

The shawl may be made of any of a variety of fibers or fabrics such as cotton, wool, cashmere, polyester, silk, either in pure or blended form. The shawl may also be made of any other substantially planar, flexible or semi-flexible materials such as plastic, rubber, leather, suede or mesh.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and elsewhere, the shawl includes a closure or attachment mechanism that enables the wearer to fasten or secure, releasably, one side or edge of the shawl to the other side at or near the wearer's neckline, thereby causing the shawl to remain secured around the wearer's body. As illustrated in FIG. 12 there are a series of pleats around the neckline finished off by a bias neckline that conform to the shape of the individuals back and neck to provide a more tailored fit around the wearer's neck.

The closure mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 14. It includes a series of parallel openings in the surface of the shawl located at or near the neckline. There is a additional piece of stiff fabric backing located just behind the parallel openings as illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 11 and FIG. 14 that helps to hold the closed shawl together. The wearer may then secure the shawl around the body by threading the end of the shawl opposite to the parallel openings (and located on the opposite side of the wearer's body) through the parallel openings and then pulling the end until the shawl is comfortably secured around the body, as shown in FIG. 1. The shawl is unsecured by following the opposite process. This friction side clasp closure mechanism may possibly be used in future products including but not limited to scarves, gloves, wallets, coats, purses, trousers, shirts, skirts, dresses, belts, bags, luggage, and sleeping bags. In addition, other shapes of the stiff fabric or other flexible or semi-flexible material closure backing are also possible (for example but not limited to a circle, triangle or oval shape instead of rectangle or square shape). In addition it is also possible that the numbers of parallel openings in future versions of the shawl or other products using this closure mechanism may change (for example one or three openings instead of two openings).

Other closure mechanisms not listed here will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Other closure or attachment mechanisms are also possible, including but not limited to a button or series of buttons, a hole or series of holes, a zipper or series of zippers, a snap or series of snaps, a buckle or series of buckles, a belt or series of belts, or a hook-and-loop or Velcro™ type fastener.

The embodiments of the invention mentioned herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. It should be understood that a person skilled in the art may contemplate many variations in construction of the present invention in view of the following claims. 

1. Closure mechanism that uses friction to keep garment, bag, belt etc. in the closed position as opposed to attaching a button, snap etc. to secure a shawl or other item that needs a closure or notion.
 2. In addition, other shapes of the stiff fabric or other flexible or semi-flexible material closure backing are also possible (for example but not limited to a circle, triangle or oval shape instead of rectangle or square shape). Any closure that uses openings that thread fabric through with a stiff fabric or other flexible or semi-flexible material closure backing are also possible. In addition it is also possible that the numbers of parallel openings in future versions of the shawl or other products using this closure mechanism may change (for example one or three openings instead of two openings).
 3. The shawl may be made of any of a variety of fibers or fabrics such as cotton, wool, cashmere, polyester, silk, either in pure or blended form. The shawl may also be made of any other substantially planar, flexible or semi-flexible materials such as plastic, rubber, leather, suede or mesh. The openings may also not be parallel in future versions, but rather for example angled or rounded. This friction side clasp closure mechanism may possibly be used in future products including but not limited to scarves, gloves, wallets, coats, purses, trousers, shirts, skirts, dresses, belts, bags, luggage, and sleeping bags. The shawl may or may not include sleeves or armholes for the hands or arms. The shawl may or may not include pockets, zippers or other openings for the convenience of the wearer. Other closure or attachment mechanisms on the shawl are also possible, including but not limited to a button or series of buttons, a hole or series of holes, a zipper or series of zippers, a snap or series of snaps, a buckle or series of buckles, a belt or series of belts, or a hook-and-loop or Velcro™ type fastener.
 4. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on a sleeping bag or pillow.
 5. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on a scarf.
 6. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on a bag or luggage.
 7. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on gloves or mittens.
 8. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on apparel such as dresses, trousers, shirts, skirts, outwear (jackets, coats, etc).
 9. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on wallets
 10. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on belts or ties.
 11. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on other obvious uses such as parachutes, sails on boats when closed.
 12. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on any storage unit closure or fastener.
 13. The closure mechanism of claim 1 incorporated on an umbrella fastener. 